Metal pot for typographical machines



Feb. 7, 1933. w. F. SEVERIN METAL POT FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1932 NM M WY C INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries WALTER F. SEVERIN, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE TO IN'IEBTYPE CORPORA- TION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METAL POT FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Application filed February 15, 1932. Serial No. 593,150.

The present invention relates to improvements in typographical machines and more especially to line casting machines of the class generally shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532, granted Sept. 16, 1890, wherein the line of character bearing matrices is presented to one face of a mold and a metal pot is brought against the opposite face of the mold and molten metal is injected from the metal pot into the mold cavity and against the character bearing faces of the matrices to form a type bar or slug having type characters along an edge thereof.

Type bars obtained in this way have been used extensively in the printing art for direct printing therefrom or for the production of stereotype matrices from which stereotype plates have been cast 'for printing. In recent years, the printing processes employed, especially in newspaper printing, require the imposition of much heavier impression pressure upon the type bars than the pressure previously required in making stereotype matrices, and it has been found in practice that some of the type bars will break down under such increased pressures, especially when a large number of impressions are made therefrom, this tendency of the type bars to break down being due to several causes, such as lack of solidity or to a spongy texture of the type bars as a result of minute air holes due to the mixing of air with the molten metal during the casting operation. Also, in certain classes of work where the printing is done directly from the type bars, and especially when a large number of mpressions are made therefrom, as in the pr nting of telephone or city directories or the like, the characters on the relatively soft type metal bars commonly used in line casting machines soon become worn or rounded at the edges, to which is added the tendency of the type bars themselves to gradually break down or sink so that their type faces are below the normal levelknown as type-high, so that after a short period of use of such type bars an uneven inking of the characters thereon from the press rollers will occur and imperfections in the impressions and smudge in the printing produced therefrom will re sult.

The primary object of the present invention is to avoid such faults and imperfections new existing in machines of this class, particularly when used for casting the ordinary ty 3e metal bars, when such bars are employed for direct printing in large quantities where many thousands of impressions therefrom are required, and when such type bars are used for the production of stereotype matrices by the modern methods requiring heavier impression pressure than heretofore.

More particularly, the invention aims to provide an improvement in the metal pot for such machines, whereby it is made possible to employ a much harder type metal alloy than heretofore usable, so that the type bars cast from such metal will be inherently stronger in all respects and will therefore withstand the heavy pressures used in the modern methods of making stereotype matrices without breaking down, and more especially, the characters on such type bars will retain their full sharpness or outlines and will not have a tendency to sink or round off at the edges when many thousands of impressions are required to be made from them. Many attempts have been made to employ type founders metal in the metal pots of line casting machines, but due to the usual construction of these pots, the walls in the outlet throat of which are relatively close together and the mouthpiece or metal ejecting plate of which is provided with a series of line apertures, the high percentage of antimony in such alloy of type metal has resulted in very quickly clogging up the apertures in the mouthpiece and building up of metal on the upper and lower walls of the metal pot throat above the metal level therein, so that frequent removal of the mouthpiece and cleaning of the throat was found necessary. The difficulties and inconvenience of such frequent cleaning of the metal pot and its mouth piece, as usually constructed, have heretofore rendered the use of the hard alloy type metal both impractical and uneconomical for the machines of this class.

According to the present invention, means required metal tightseal betweenthe mouth are provided whereby, the throat of themetal pot'above the metal level, and if desired, the rear face of the pot mouthpiece, are made easily accessible, thus avoiding the tedious" task of removing the mouthpiece for cleaning these portions and thereby preserving the pieceand the metal pot, and at the same time rendering it possible to perform the clean; ing operationfrequently in a quick and thorg 1 'ough manner. I

A; further obj vide such meansfor rendering the upper portion of the metal potgthroatliaccessible for cleaning and inspection and which also permits the draining off of surface sludge or I I dross which floats at'the level ofthe metal in the pot throat, this'being aparticularly advantageous feature of the invention since, as

is"; well known, type metal alloy of the kind now proposed for use'in machines' ofthe. kind -referred-to, has the peculiar property of throwing ofl or separating a portion ofits antimony constituent in form of beads which lie onthesurface of the molten metal and frequently adhere to the-throat of the pot above the metal level jand to the back of the mouthpiece adjacent 'thereto, due to the slightly reducedtemperatureof these surfaces. a

cation;

7 In the accompanying drawing reference characters in'thedifferent figures:

Fig. '1 is a side elevation, partly in section, ofiaimetal pot for a typographical machine,

embodying the present invention; I

r "Fig. 2 's a sideelevatiom on'anenlarged' scale, of the forward of the metal pot; a V I 'Fig. 3 is adetail verticalfsectiontaken on portion and mouthpiece the line 33 of Fig. 2;

"j Fig; 4 isa view similar to another embodiment of the invention; and

' Fig.5 is asideelevation of the discharge 3 end of the metal pot, showing a further embodimentof the invention. Similar parts are designated-by the same -The present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing'applied to the metalpot of'a line casting-machine'of the-well I known class shown generally in the patent hereinbefore referred to, the metal pot 11 being of the-usual well known construction. having acruoible 2 contained within a jacket 3 and protected against heat loss by suitable insulating material 4; interposed between the crucible and the jacket, and the top of the 'metal pot is closed bya cover 5, as usual. The type metal is contained within the crucible ect of theinvention 15rd pro- Fig. 3, showing 2andis brought to themolten state by applying heat either by an electric or gas heater the'usual or any suitable manner. A pump well 6 is formed in'thelower portion of the crucible, it havinga port 6 inits side wall through which the molten metal from 'the crucible may-*entir; the pump well, and a piston or metal'pump 7 reciprocates Vertically in the pump well, it beingconnected to an actuating rod j 8 which jm ayibe'reciprocated by 'theusu'a'l' means-'emp1 ea in machines of this class,-it being forced downwardlyvwhen the castingoperation is totake place, there- 5 by causing themetal pump 7 to make a down- 'neathifit in the wenie but or the latter: and into themetal--pot'throat 9 which, in metal ward strokeandthus force molten metal be-:

pots as commonly usedini machines of; the

class referredt'o, extends upwardly and for? ward ly, the u per forward end" ofthe throat communicating with series of apertures lQ'formed in' a mouthpiece -11 fitted to the r upper for-ward end i of the throat. I As usual in typograpliical machines of the class; referred to, the forward'face ofthe mouthpiece l'lis brought against the rear face'of a mold having a slot or cavity therein forlthe cast. ing of the type bar or slug,"the apertures 10 of the vmouthpiece aligning with the mold cavity,*and a line'l-of matrices is presented to the opposite or forward face of the mold so -tl1atth e cavity in thelatterfis 'in alignment with .thetype characters formedini the rear edges ofthe matrices, so that the moltenr type-metal force'd'up'wardly through the metalpot'throat9 by-the descent of the-metal pump 7 will be forced through the apertures 10 'in' the mouthpiece 1 1' and into the; mold cavity to cast a type bartherein against the character bearing matrices. Themetal pot,

in machines of the class referred to, is mount -v ed torock or tilt forwardlyrinto casting po-' 'sition' against the mold and rearwardly away from the mold after. the casting operation has been performed, themetal pot beinguse V u'ally provided with downwardly extending legs '1? 'pivotallyr supported ,at'their lower:

- ends on' a. transverse pivot or shaft19 mounts ed in arelatively fixed position in the main frame of the machine,-lthe metal pot" being rocked forwardly and rearwardly about the, I pivot or shaft 19 as a center under control of a jcam 20 on the main cam'shaftof the machine which cooperates with a roller 2lon or] attached tothe metal-pot. Such rocking of the"-metalpot to and from castingposi-.

tion and the manner of injecting-the molten metal from the metal pot. intothe mold are the same a's-i'commonly take placeiin typo; graphical-machineslof. the class referred to, and it is'therefore deemedjunnecessary to de-? i scribe theseoperationsin further cleta-iL- 1;

r In practice, the level of themoltenmetal in the metal pot: is. maintained. somewhatbe. lowthe apertures "10in the mouthpiece, ;so'

that, as the metal pot is rocked or tilted forwardly to a. horizontal position where its mouthpiece forms a facewise metal-tight fit against the mold, the metal will not rise so high in the throat as to prematurely flow out of the apertures 10. WVhen the metal pot is rocked rearwardly after a. cast has been made, the metal level recedes to a somewhat lower point in the throat of the pot. In the present instance, the metal pot is shown in its forward position just prior to actuation of the metal pump 7, and the metal level, designated 12, lies below the apertures 10 as described. It will be understood that the metal level in the throat is maintained at the same height as that in the reservoir or body portion of the crucible by the port 6 in the well 6, through which metal may flow from the reservoir of the crucible into the well to replace the metal discharged from the throat during each casting operation, as is usual'in metal pots of this class.

In carrying out the present invention, an opening, bore or passageway 13 is provided at one or both sides of the metal pot throat,

at a convenient location behind the mouthpiece and substantially at the normal level of the molten metal when the pot is in its forward or casting position. Obviously, the

1 opening or bore 13 may be of any convenient size and shape and it may be large enough to permit the removal therethrough of a matrix should such accidentally enter the metal pot, and it may be positioned at any point hetween the mouthpiece and the low metal level being threaded exterior-1y to receive an interiorly threaded cap 15 in which is seated a gasket 16 to form a metal tight seal for the outer end of the opening or bore 13. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, which enables the invention to be easily applied to metal pots already in service as well as to new pots, alarger bore 13 having internal threads 17 is provided, the bore being fitted with a hollow threaded nipple 18 of sufficient length to prol ject beyond the side of the pot, and having an internal annular flange 18 at its inner end to seat against the inner end of the bore 13, the outer exteriorly threaded end of the nlpple being adapted to receive a threaded cap 15 having a head 15 carried by an axial stem I the inner end of the nipple by the head 15 substantially at its point'of communication with the throat leaving the side wall of the throat substantially smooth or without a cavity of such size as would allow a substantial volume of molten metal to flow therein and therefrom, thus avoiding disturbance of the metal in the throat during the casting operation and also preventing lodging and solidifying of metal in the discharge passageway in the nipple, since the head 15 prevents flow of the metal to the outer cooler part of the pot where it might become chilled. The cap, in either instance, is preferably of hexagon form to facilitate removal and replacement thereof.

In both constructions shown, the cap-receiv- 1 ing threads are exteriorly of the metal dis charge passageway so that these threads will not become filled or clogged with dross or metal removed therethrough, and hence difliculty in the replacement of the cap is avoided. The construction shown in Fig. 5 may be the same as that shown in Fig. 3 except that in Fig. 5 the bore 13 is large enough to permit the removal of a matrix therethrough, and a square wrench-receiving portion projects from the outer face of the cap.

While the metal pot is in horizontal or lookup position as shown, which is the position the metal pot occupies during the casting period, the metal level, designated 12, will lie above the bottom or lowermost part of the bore 13 or the discharge passageway in the nipple, so that if the cap 15 or 15 is removed with the pot in this position, metal will immediately flow out from the throat through the bore or passageway, thus causing the removal of any dross which has accumulated in the trap formed by the lower portion of the bore 13 in Fig. 3 or from the surface of the metal in the throat in Figs. 3 and 4. In practice, it will be found desirable to remove the cap while the metal pot is tilted backwardly or out of its casting position, where it ordinarily stands when the machine is not in use, at which time the metal level in the throat will be slightly below the bore 13 or the discharge passageway in the nipple so that the metal will not escape therethrough. After the cap has been removed, the interior or upper portion of the pot throat 9 can be inspected and a suitable scraping tool can be inserted through the bore or discharge passageway to detach or loosen any dross that may be lodged on the walls of the throat or along the back of the mouthpiece 11. To drain off the dross thus loosened or the so-called antimony beads that float on the top or surface of the molten metal in the throat, it is only necessary to depress the pump piston 7 by hand, thereby causing the level of the molten metal to rise in the throat, and any floating dross or antimony beads can be skimmed off through the bore or discharge passageway.

The present invention thus provides an opening, bore or passageway disposed beas I having an upwardlyextending throat for the dischargeof molten metal, a mold-engaging tween the mouth ofjthe metal pot and the sur face or level ofthe molten metalin the metal pot'throatto afford accessibility to the 'intemolten metal in .the throat, withoutthe necessityof removing the mouthpiece or break; 1 ingthe sealhetween it and-the metal pot. f Obviously, other equivalent means. for ac-.

complishing these results will suggest themselves to those skilledin the-art and; such are included within the scope of the invention. as

'setforthin the claims. a

1 claim as'my invention a 1 dischargelof moltenmetalrtherefrom and a F mold-engaging mouthpiece at the upper'discharge end of said throat, and having an opening extending from 7 the interior of the throat at a point adjacentto'the mouthpiece to the exterior ofthe throatvbelow the discharge endithere'of. Y

having an upwardly extending throat for'the discharge of molten metal therefrom and means forvinaintaining the levelof molten metal therein near the upper discharge end thereof, and having a passageway extending from said throatv substantially ia't-the metal level thereinito theexter-io'r of they-throat be-- low the discharge enduthereof. v

a: 3. :A metal pot for; typographical machines mouthpiece at the discharge end of said throat, and means-for maintainingthe molten metal in theithroat at-a level nearthe' upper clischarge end thereof, a passageway leading from the throat in the region of the 'metal: level, therein and adj ac'ent-to the mouthpiece, to the exterior-of-the throat at a. point substantially belowithe mouthpiece, r

A. A metalpot for typographicalmachines In testimony whereof I have hereunto set having an upwardlyextendingmolten metal vvhich is toward the throat and in substantial parallelism with thelength "ofthe "mouthpiece, and means for closing said opening;

7. A metal-pot for-typographical machines,

tiltable tow and from casting position and'having anl upwardly and forwardly extending molten"m etaljdischarge throat to contain molten metal to a'level near its upper end when the pot isin'casting position, a mold engagingmouthpiece on the upperdischarge '7 endof-the throat, apassagewayextending 1. -Ametalpot for typographical ,machlnes havingan upwardly extending-throat for the transversely through the upper portion of a side of-"said throat'behind the mouthpiece sition to the exterior of the throat, and means for closing the exterior endof said passage inner end substantially at its junction iwith theiinterior of the throat. v I 9. Ametal pot for typographical machines pot for typographicalmachines V I having annpwardly'extending-throat for the 2. A metal pot for typographical machines having an upwardly extending metal dis-1 charge. throatxand a passageway extending from the interior of the' throat at'a level near the upper-discharge end thereof to thezex terior of the throat, and a member reniovably" attached to the throat and having; a part to seat at and closethe inner ,end of said pas-' sageway adjacent to its point of communica tion-withr the interior of thethroatl 1 z Y -1 1 g, I WALTER n snvnnrnga having an upwardly extending throat for the discharge of molten metal therefrom and means-for 'maintaining the level of, molten :50 metal thereinnear the upper discharge end I Q thereof, and having a passageway extending I from said throat'substantially atthe metal level therein to the exterior of the throat, a

' 5 A metal pot for typographical machines having an upwardly extending molten metal 7 #6 0 discharge throat to containmolten metal to a levelnear its upper dissharge end, and a trap communicating'with said throat and the-ex terior ofthe metal pot substantially atthe metal level therein. r

"65 .i 6. A metal-pot for typographical machines 

